Court Appearances Begin After Kent Riots

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KENT, Ohio - The clean up of shattered glass and debris continued along East College Avenue on Monday following a street party that erupted into a confrontation with police.

Some of the 33 people who were arrested following the confrontation on Saturday also started making their court appearances.

"It started off slow, but then after everyone started throwing bottles, the fights were breaking out. Then that's when the cops brought their tear gas, that shut us down," said Erin Miele, whose friends are among those who were arrested.

"Our house was like right where all of the cops were at and like our roof buckled and our floor and everybody got arrested and it was like mayhem. It was fun," she added.

But police on Monday described the scene as anything but 'fun.'

"Quite frankly the demeanor of a lot of people in the crowd, according to officers, was they were cursing at police," said Canfield.

"The worst thing is just the fact that there are assaults and even while we are trying to get medical attention to people, officers are being assaulted with bottles as well as medical personnel. You know, they're throwing bottles, and whatever else they can get their hands on, at the ambulance and at the officers that are trying to provide for the safety of others."

Kent police moved in to break up the party along with officers from a regional SWAT team, the Portage County sheriff's office, the Ohio Highway Patrol and others.

Canfield said when the officers started to move in, many of the estimated 3,000 who were gathered on East College Avenue took off.

Home video showed a sizable crowd remained. Some individuals were throwing bottles at the police as officers launched tear gas into the crowd. Many began chanting profanities.

"People get too drunk and they can't control themselves," said Tom Dowd, a Kent State Student who was there.

"It was like a really fun time and then you just started seeing people start fighting and then swarms of people and sometimes they do need to take control of that," added Tori Kohl, who said she left once she realized things were getting out of control.

"We are there to provide for your safety and once you start to assault us we can't help you if you become a victim as well. So directing animosity towards us is not an effective strategy," said Canfield on Monday.

Although the party was described by police as an annual event, it is not sanctioned by Kent State University or by the city.

"It really is just about everybody coming out and having a great time," said Brittany Tomassi, a Kent State Student who lives on East College Avenue, but who was not at the party.